In the 2008 Vol. 2 catalog the retail was 279.99. This is the Tuscan color, Rd# 2340. My local dealer has a couple left but tells me the "street" price went up to 399.00. He mentioned something about them putting these in higher priced sets soon?

Does this makes sense and does 399.00 seem reasonable now? Thats a big price jump.

I'd like to have one. Should I look at the Williams model instead?

I dont care about getting Legacy or TMCC capability with it.

Thanks,

John W

John,
Seems Lionel has raised alot of their prices, and dealers now have to work with local distributors now instead of a direct buy/franchise with Lionel. I due suspect some price gougeing here so shop around.

Find a new dealer. A storefront that starts speculating with current inventory isn't worth your time. It's obvious he doesn't respect his customers.

Fred

I agree with Fred on this, find another dealer. If he has them in stock he got it at the dealer cost at that time whether it was from Lionel or a distributor to sell at the MSRP of $279.95. What Lionel may or may not do with the prices later on has nothing to do with it. To jack up the price now is just adding $120 dollars to his pocket at your expense. I would never darken the doorway of a LHS that did business that way.

quote:

In the 2008 Vol. 2 catalog the retail was 279.99. This is the Tuscan color, Rd# 2340. My local dealer has a couple left but tells me the "street" price went up to 399.00

John, is the current price for this locomotive at your dealer 279 or 399? If it is 399 than I agree with Fred in that you need to find another dealer to do business with.

If your dealer is telling you that 279 is the current price, but you had better "at fast" because the next batch is going to be higher, than, it seems, he is just trying to get you off the fence and make a decision.

Everything is going up in price, Lionel, Williams etc.

If you want the Lionel, than look around and get the Lionel. If you want the Williams, than look for a Williams.

I'd like a bit more information regarding what your dealer it telling you.

Also, the next set that contains this engine is a passenger set listing for 499 with three baby Madison type cars. So, your dealer is somewhat correct in that the price is going up, but for a set, not just an engine. Add in the price of inflation and it seems that Lionel is about right in terms of pricing.

Charlie

Thanks. Interesting feedback. I will shop around. I like my dealer. I am pretty good friends with them. Like most, they have everything priced on the shelves at the MSRP but with anything that I buy from them they typically give me 15-25% off. Ususally everything I buy they give me the pre-buy price regardless. For some reason they just could not budge on that item.

How about that Williams model?

I have a pre Bachmann Williams GG1 and like it very much. It doesn't have the PUllmor motors though so you won't get that postwar smell but it does look and run great like all of my Williams locos. But if you like Lionel and that is what you are looking for I would agree with Charlie that you should look at another dealer. Good Luck.

This is the actual engine with the same part # from the 2008 Vol 2 catalog. MSRP was 279.00. I was talking to my dealer the other day and he told me the price went up to 399.99.

All in all I like this guy and the shop. I am not a fan of mail order any more because I always seem to have bad luck with what I receive. With them I can go in and look at the goods before I buy it. They are one of the largest Lionel dealers that I am aware of in NJ.

I'll look around

I do have a Williams steam engine that I enjoy. It does not compare in detail to the other stuff available but I have a new found appreciation for the toys, PW Lionel trains and conventional operation with my old ZW.

John, why not put a WTB ad in the buy/sell forum for one? Some folks have been less than happy with them and selling at very reasonable prices. Even new you could buy them for much less than $200.

Pete

If a dealer is really price gouging, considering boards like this that permit the free flow of instant info across the world...the dealer deserves to go under.

It looks as if many of these Lionel engines were blown out for less that $200.00. Have you considered the MTH version? Our buddy Jim has them for $276.00, with PS 2.0. http://www.jimstrainshop.com/x...t=591&PHPSESSID=ae9c

Lionel's new much higher pricing combined with their making dealers go through distributors (except for a few big ones) is moving stuff out of many people's (including my) price range.

Cars that sold at MSRP for $44.99 or $49.99 a couple of years ago are all-of-a-sudden $69.99 or $74.99. And starter-type rolling stock that sold for $25 or less just a couple of years ago is now going for $39.99. With plastic trucks, no less.

Just how Lionel expects to move merchandise in this economy with those huge price increases is beyond me. Perhaps its recent 10% discount coupon offer is their way of trying to back-track some and help dealers clear their shelves before Christmas.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry Burns:
It looks as if many of these Lionel engines were blown out for less that $200.00. Have you considered the MTH version? Our buddy Jim has them for $276.00, with PS 2.0. http://www.jimstrainshop.com/x...t=591&PHPSESSID=ae9c

Myself, I don't own any MTH stuff, but if I was looking for a GG1 I would say for the money you would be far better off going with what Gerry is suggesting here. Looks great.

Thanks. I checked Jimmy's website and saw the MTH. I don't have DCS and don't plan on getting it but I guess I can run it conventional since that is what I was looking for anyway. I'd like to see it in person first. I will visit another large dealer near me today that has a very large inventory of all brands and see what they have too.

MA&PA has WBB's for 170!

Dominic is right. For around $170 you can get a Williams GG1. I bought one a few months ago with a Pennsy porthole caboose for a little over $200. I call that a good deal. First rate product for the money. I've got locos from Lionel, MTH, RMT, K-Line and Williams and the Williams are my best runners. I'm not talking about high end stuff, just basic toy trains.

Thanks.

I'll check out Ma&Pa. I picked up the GG1 this afternoon at another local shop I frequent but I had my eye on a few possibilities from Ma&Pa too.

I have 2 Williams trains and although they do not compare in detail to other pricier trains they are very nice toys as I see it. I am really begining to appreciate the toy aspect of our O gauge hobby.

For anyone considering a GG-1 right now, take a look at this particular set break-up item at Jim's Train Shop. I got one the GG-1 with Protosound 2 for $210 a couple of weeks ago, and am very pleased. The sound, proto-couplers and speed control all work in conventional and, even if you don't run DCS now, this is a good start in case you ever do.

30-2591-1 PENNSYLVANIA GG-1 PASSENGER TRAIN SET $ 335.00
REG. $410.00
SPECIAL $335.00

WE ARE SELLING THE GG-1 SEPARATELY FOR $210.00 AND THE (4) PASSENGER CARS FOR $135.00.

http://www.jimstrainshop.com/x...-2591-1&in_category=

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie:
...Add in the price of inflation and it seems that Lionel is about right in terms of pricing.

Charlie

What inflation? The last couple of years it's been like, what, 2% or so? Lionel is just raising the heck out of their prices.....let's call it like it is.

Rod

I know a fellow model railroader who purchased one of the CC GG1's and he has had nothing but problems with it. He told me that the engine even when pulling a modest load, the motors overheat to the point where it stops running. He also reported some off tolerance sizing on the wheel spacings that are causing derailment problems. While this may not be symptomatic of the entire run, it does raise cause for concern on those who run this engine. This is not a high end engine but still it should be expected to run reliably.
As for "street price"; this is a term used by gamblers, shysters and speculators not legitimate dealers. If he tried to extort more than the MSRP for any item, I'd tell him to shove that GG1 up his you know where! That Northern NJ dealer sounds like he might be the guy in Mountain Lakes.

For what its worth, I was able to get a 38303 Tuscan 2340 GG-1 from Haiwatha Hobbies about two weeks ago for $195. As soon as I posted that, someone responded that I had gotten the last one and that they were out. There still may be some out there, keep looking.

BTW, I have both the CC Green and tuscan GG-1's with no problems from either. They run great.

Sombody on the Bay had the Virginian FM for like $160 the other day, although I don't know what it ended up going for.....point is look hard and you might be rewarded!

I also now have the 75th anniversery set fromteh Vol II catalog on pre order.

The same price jump happened with the Sager Place car. It must be limited quantities of separate sale items.

I was just at the Train Station on Sat. and they offered a CC GG-1 for $200. I guess it is how much they like you at that place...

Micromark.com has the Williams tuscan GG-1 for $159.95 with free shipping.